Scripture Luke 23:32-46
Who here is a thief? Let me rephrase. Who here has ever been a
thief = you have stolen something? Have you ever taken a pen from work without
permission? Have you ever cheated on your taxes? Have you ever stolen someone's
idea? Besides probably being guilty of all of the above - let me share the time
I was a thief.
My story - I got caught shoplifting, including the penalty. 2 weeks grounded and not allowed to the mall for 6 months and shame before my mother. Oct 23, 1971
What is the very brief but famous story about two thieves in the Bible? The thieves on the cross. It is so short but is included in all four gospels. One who was there, two who were close to the situation and likely wrote from a similar source, and one who had to approach it from an investigative reporter point of view - through the stories of those who were there.
John 19:18 (who was there)
Here they crucified him, and with him two others — one on each side and Jesus in the middle.
Matthew 27:38-44 (who were close to the situation - same as Mark - but this end of public ministry disgrace and description somewhat mirrors the beginning of his public ministry)
Two robbers were crucified with him, one on his right and one on his left. Those who passed by hurled insults at him, shaking their heads and saying, "You who are going to destroy the temple and build it in three days, save yourself! Come down from the cross, if you are the Son of God!" (Satan in the wilderness at the beginning of Jesus public ministry - "If you are the son of God - turn these stones into bread? "Save yourself")
They crucified two robbers with him, one on his right and one on his left. Those who passed by hurled insults at him, shaking their heads and saying, "So! You who are going to destroy the temple and build it in three days, come down from the cross and save yourself!"
In the same way the chief priests and the teachers of the law mocked him among themselves. "He saved others," they said, "but he can't save himself! Let this Christ, this King of Israel, come down now from the cross, that we may see and believe." Those crucified with him also heaped insults on him.
Luke 23:32-46 (the investigative reporter)
Two other men, both criminals, were also led out with him to be executed. 33 When they came to the place called the Skull, there they crucified him, along with the criminals — one on his right, the other on his left. 34 Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing." And they divided up his clothes by casting lots.
40 But the other criminal rebuked him. "Don't you fear God," he said, "since you are under the same sentence? We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong."
The Thief on the Cross
We do not know much more about the thief on the cross other than he was:
A criminal
Crucified next to Jesus
Brought into paradise at his death
That's it. We don't know much. Not exactly something to build a whole sermon around - it is what you would call a short story. But maybe not. Like Luke, let's investigate and see if there is more to this story than meets the eye.
1) The death penalty seems extreme for a single act of theft - doesn't it? This would have been a habitual criminal or a thief who caused violence or death - like in the story of the good Samaritan - Luke 10:30-31 In reply Jesus said: "A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he fell into the hands of robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead."
More than thieves after all -
NT:2557 kakourgos kakourgos (kak-oor'-gos); a wrong-doer, i.e. criminal:
NT:4238 prassw prasso (pras'-so); a primary verb; to "practice", i.e. perform repeatedly or habitually. It was not a single criminal act - but a habit.
By also being crucified with these two, the implication is that Jesus committed a crime or crimes equally as bad or worse than the 2 who know they are getting what they deserve.
2) That he would defend Jesus, especially to another being crucified for the same crime seems odd, doesn't it? He must have had an encounter or listened to, or seen a miracle or at the very least heard stories about Jesus - this was not his first knowledge of him. Even today, most people need several exposures before putting their faith in Jesus.
What an incredible story! A man who presumably led his entire life in opposition to God, by the great mercies of God, was able to be saved in his dying moments. This demonstrates that a humble heart that cries out to God for salvation will be heard!
Jesus answered, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise.” (v. 43)
(Romans 10:13) Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.
Who else do we know was a thief and how was that looked upon? John 12:4-6
But one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was later to betray him, objected, "Why wasn't this perfume sold and the money given to the poor? It was worth a year's wages." He did not say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief; as keeper of the money bag, he used to help himself to what was put into it.
What was the result of the thief Judas' response to Jesus? Death!
What was the result of the response of the thief on the cross who denied Jesus as Lord? Death!
Who else in the world are thieves and deserve the death penalty for breaking the law - for their sin? Every one of us. (Luke 18:19 Jesus answered. "No one is good — except God alone.)
Romans 6:20-23
When you were slaves to sin, you were free from the control of righteousness. What benefit did you reap at that time from the things you are now ashamed of? Those things result in death! But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves to God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life. For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
CONCLUSION
Two very different responses to the Son of God who dies on the cross for us. These two represent every human. You respond to Jesus death in one of two ways. You blaspheme him as the one did. You acknowledge him as the anointed one of God as the other did. What Jesus did on that cross, combined with our response (like one or the other hanging there) determines our eternal fate. The entire gospel is in this single story. The entire reason for the 66 books of the bible being written has its apex in this brief little story in Luke. From creation to the second coming of Christ, everything hinges on this story.
You are a thief! You are one of the thieves on the cross that day and you are face to face with Jesus? What is your response to him?
My story - I got caught shoplifting, including the penalty. 2 weeks grounded and not allowed to the mall for 6 months and shame before my mother. Oct 23, 1971
What is the very brief but famous story about two thieves in the Bible? The thieves on the cross. It is so short but is included in all four gospels. One who was there, two who were close to the situation and likely wrote from a similar source, and one who had to approach it from an investigative reporter point of view - through the stories of those who were there.
John 19:18 (who was there)
Here they crucified him, and with him two others — one on each side and Jesus in the middle.
Matthew 27:38-44 (who were close to the situation - same as Mark - but this end of public ministry disgrace and description somewhat mirrors the beginning of his public ministry)
Two robbers were crucified with him, one on his right and one on his left. Those who passed by hurled insults at him, shaking their heads and saying, "You who are going to destroy the temple and build it in three days, save yourself! Come down from the cross, if you are the Son of God!" (Satan in the wilderness at the beginning of Jesus public ministry - "If you are the son of God - turn these stones into bread? "Save yourself")
They crucified two robbers with him, one on his right and one on his left. Those who passed by hurled insults at him, shaking their heads and saying, "So! You who are going to destroy the temple and build it in three days, come down from the cross and save yourself!"
In the same way the chief priests and the teachers of the law mocked him among themselves. "He saved others," they said, "but he can't save himself! Let this Christ, this King of Israel, come down now from the cross, that we may see and believe." Those crucified with him also heaped insults on him.
Luke 23:32-46 (the investigative reporter)
Two other men, both criminals, were also led out with him to be executed. 33 When they came to the place called the Skull, there they crucified him, along with the criminals — one on his right, the other on his left. 34 Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing." And they divided up his clothes by casting lots.
40 But the other criminal rebuked him. "Don't you fear God," he said, "since you are under the same sentence? We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong."
We do not know much more about the thief on the cross other than he was:
A criminal
Crucified next to Jesus
Brought into paradise at his death
That's it. We don't know much. Not exactly something to build a whole sermon around - it is what you would call a short story. But maybe not. Like Luke, let's investigate and see if there is more to this story than meets the eye.
1) The death penalty seems extreme for a single act of theft - doesn't it? This would have been a habitual criminal or a thief who caused violence or death - like in the story of the good Samaritan - Luke 10:30-31 In reply Jesus said: "A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he fell into the hands of robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead."
More than thieves after all -
NT:2557 kakourgos kakourgos (kak-oor'-gos); a wrong-doer, i.e. criminal:
NT:4238 prassw prasso (pras'-so); a primary verb; to "practice", i.e. perform repeatedly or habitually. It was not a single criminal act - but a habit.
By also being crucified with these two, the implication is that Jesus committed a crime or crimes equally as bad or worse than the 2 who know they are getting what they deserve.
2) That he would defend Jesus, especially to another being crucified for the same crime seems odd, doesn't it? He must have had an encounter or listened to, or seen a miracle or at the very least heard stories about Jesus - this was not his first knowledge of him. Even today, most people need several exposures before putting their faith in Jesus.
What an incredible story! A man who presumably led his entire life in opposition to God, by the great mercies of God, was able to be saved in his dying moments. This demonstrates that a humble heart that cries out to God for salvation will be heard!
Jesus answered, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise.” (v. 43)
(Romans 10:13) Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.
Who else do we know was a thief and how was that looked upon? John 12:4-6
But one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was later to betray him, objected, "Why wasn't this perfume sold and the money given to the poor? It was worth a year's wages." He did not say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief; as keeper of the money bag, he used to help himself to what was put into it.
What was the result of the thief Judas' response to Jesus? Death!
What was the result of the response of the thief on the cross who denied Jesus as Lord? Death!
Who else in the world are thieves and deserve the death penalty for breaking the law - for their sin? Every one of us. (Luke 18:19 Jesus answered. "No one is good — except God alone.)
Romans 6:20-23
When you were slaves to sin, you were free from the control of righteousness. What benefit did you reap at that time from the things you are now ashamed of? Those things result in death! But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves to God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life. For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
CONCLUSION
Two very different responses to the Son of God who dies on the cross for us. These two represent every human. You respond to Jesus death in one of two ways. You blaspheme him as the one did. You acknowledge him as the anointed one of God as the other did. What Jesus did on that cross, combined with our response (like one or the other hanging there) determines our eternal fate. The entire gospel is in this single story. The entire reason for the 66 books of the bible being written has its apex in this brief little story in Luke. From creation to the second coming of Christ, everything hinges on this story.
You are a thief! You are one of the thieves on the cross that day and you are face to face with Jesus? What is your response to him?
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